Factors Influencing Professional Help-Seeking Intentions for Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Among Female University Students in Eswatini.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prevalence of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) among female college students, identify factors influencing intention to seek professional help among SGBV survivors, and compare help-seeking determinants among survivors based on their prior utilization of healthcare services. DESIGN: A cross-sectional online survey was employed among female students aged 18-24 years from two universities in Eswatini. MEASUREMENTS AND SAMPLE: A total of 271 female college students were recruited to assess SGBV experience, attitudes, social norms, perceived control, help-seeking intention, and other factors not originally included in the theory of planned behavior. Data analyses utilized descriptive statistics, comparative analyses, and multiple regression methods. RESULTS: Among the participants, 73.1% reported experiencing one or more forms of SGBV, while only 43.4% sought professional help through health services. Help-seeking intentions of survivors were significantly associated with positive attitudes, subjective norms, and marital status, collectively explaining 66% of the variance. In subgroup analyses, the subjective norm and attitude emerged as the most robust predictors of help-seeking intentions. CONCLUSION: The results revealed a high prevalence of SGBV and a concerning trend of low help-seeking behavior, with attitudes and subjective norms emerging as the most influential factors shaping intention. These results provide valuable insights for designing theory-driven and culturally sensitive public health nursing interventions and educational programs aimed at effectively supporting SGBV survivors.

Meta-synthesis of qualitative studies to explore fathers' perspectives of their influence on children's obesity-related health behaviors.

BACKGROUND: In nursing research and practice, there is a paucity of information about how fathers perceive their role in shaping their children's health behaviors. Most studies on the parental factors affecting children's health behaviors have focused on the role of mothers. However, recent studies showed that fathers' health behaviors can influence those of their children. Therefore, the aim of this study was to synthesize existing qualitative studies to explore fathers' perspectives regarding how they influence children's obesity-related health behaviors. METHODS: We conducted a descriptive meta-synthesis. To retrieve relevant articles, we used databases including PubMed, CINAHL, and Web of Science. Only qualitative studies published in English-language peer-reviewed journals, targeting fathers of children aged 2-18 years, and focusing on fathers' perspectives were included. All the quotes collected from the studies were reviewed and coded, and thematic analysis was used to derive themes. RESULTS: Article screening and review yielded a total of 13 qualitative studies, from which the following themes emerged: (1) fathers' parenting practices and role-modeling behaviors, (2) fathers' roles in their relationships with their family members, and (3) fathers' resource-seeking behaviors and contributions to their home food environment. Fathers were aware that their parenting practices and role-modeling behaviors could influence their children's health behaviors. Furthermore, fathers recognized the importance of their relationships with family members, which was reflected in their family roles; that is, whether they took responsibility for childcare and household work, whether their parenting practices were similar to those of their spouses, and whether they involved their children in their activities. Fathers also reported their resource-seeking behaviors as well as their contribution to the home food environment, which affected their children's health behaviors. CONCLUSION: Fathers' perspectives on their influence on children's health behaviors reveal their unique paternal role in influencing children's health behaviors. Fathers' perspectives could be incorporated into future nursing research to examine the relationship between fathers' roles and children's health behaviors to develop better health intervention programs.

Cognitive impairment in women newly diagnosed with thyroid cancer before treatment.

PURPOSE: The study aims to assess cognitive function in women newly diagnosed with non-metastatic thyroid cancer before any treatment and to identify factors associated with cognitive problems. METHODS: Korean women newly diagnosed with thyroid cancer awaiting initial surgical treatment (n = 130) completed neuropsychological tests and self-report questionnaires on symptom distress and psychological distress. Additionally, information on thyroid function was obtained through a medical chart audit. Descriptive statistics and multivariable regression analyses were performed to describe the incidence of cognitive problems and to identify possible predictors of neuropsychological performance. RESULTS: Approximately 95% of women newly diagnosed with thyroid cancer had impaired neuropsychological test scores on one or more tests of attention and cognitive control. Further analyses found that 78% of women met both the Global Deficit Score and the International Cancer and Cognition Task Force criteria for impairment. Finally, regression analyses found that older age, fewer years of education, greater depressed mood, and having a hypothyroid state but not having a comorbid condition, fatigue, sleep problems, symptom burden, or symptom interference were associated with worse neuropsychological test performance in this sample. Additional explorative regression analysis using mean T-scores corrected for age, education, and gender continued to find that hypothyroid state was associated with worse neuropsychological test performance. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that individuals newly diagnosed with non-metastatic thyroid cancer are vulnerable to cognitive deficits at diagnosis before any treatment. As such, healthcare workers should assess individuals newly diagnosed with thyroid cancer diagnosis awaiting treatment for the disease for cognitive deficits and intervene to reduce symptom distress and optimize function.

Prevalence of HIV testing and associated factors among young adolescents in Eswatini: a secondary data analysis.

BACKGROUND: HIV testing is a crucial starting point for prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment of HIV. Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest global HIV/AIDS prevalence and mortality, yet HIV testing remains sub-optimal. Thus, this study aimed to identify the prevalence of HIV testing and associated factors among young adolescents aged 10 to 14 years in Eswatini, a country with the highest HIV prevalence in the world. METHODS: Data were obtained from Swaziland HIV Incidence Measurement Survey between 2016 and 2017 (SHIMS 2), an internationally supported national survey aimed at combating HIV/AIDS. A total of 739 young adolescents aged 10 to 14 years were selected for the final analysis after deleting cases with missing values for the key variables. The effects of demographic characteristics, HIV knowledge, HIV risk perception, belief about HIV testing, perceived service accessibility, and parent-child sexual and reproductive health communication on lifetime HIV testing as an outcome variable, were explored using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: Only 52.0% of young adolescents reported "ever tested" for HIV in their lifetime. Age (OR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.73-0.90), residence (OR = 0.56, 95% CI = 0.43-0.74), and perceived service accessibility (OR = 3.10, (95% CI = 1.47-6.56) were identified as important factors associated with receiving HIV testing among young adolescents. CONCLUSIONS: A low rate of HIV testing was identified among young adolescents in Eswatini compared to the intended global goal of HIV testing coverage. Our findings suggested the importance of young adolescent-friendly educational and environmental interventions needed to improve the prevalence of HIV testing by reducing misperceptions about the risk of HIV and alleviating environmental constraints to access to HIV services.

The Relationship Between Body Awareness and Self-care in Patients With Heart Failure: Moderating Effect of Age.

BACKGROUND: Recognizing changing symptoms is challenging for patients with heart failure (HF), especially older patients. Body awareness involves an attentional focus on and awareness of internal bodily changes. Patients with poor body awareness are unlikely to recognize subtle bodily changes, which may result in improper self-care. Despite the potential benefits of body awareness, its contribution to HF management has not been examined. AIMS: The aims of this study were to examine the relationship between body awareness and self-care in patients with HF and explore whether this relationship varies by age. METHODS: Patients (N = 136) completed the Body Awareness Questionnaire and 2 scales of the Self-care of HF Index (maintenance and management). Linear regression models were constructed to explore the relationship between body awareness and self-care after controlling for covariates. The moderation effect of age on the relationship between body awareness and self-care was examined using the PROCESS macro. RESULTS: Body awareness was associated with self-care maintenance (unstandardized coefficient = 0.19; 95% confidence interval, 0.05-0.34) but not management. When the interaction effect of body awareness and age was entered in the regression model, neither self-care maintenance nor management was related to this interaction term. CONCLUSION: We found that body awareness is conducive to self-care maintenance but not self-care management in patients with HF, and the relationship between body awareness and self-care did not vary by age. Our findings suggest that relying on internal body sensations may be insufficient to facilitate self-care management. Thus, other strategies along with the strategies to enhance body awareness are necessary to improve the full process of self-care in HF patients.

In Vitro and In Vivo Genotoxicity Assessments and Phytochemical Analysis of the Traditional Herbal Prescription Siryung-Tang.

Siryung-tang (SRT) is a traditional herbal prescription containing Oryeong-san and Soshiho-tang that is used to treat digestive system diseases. We performed safety evaluations of SRT based on genotoxicity and developed an assay for quality control using high-performance liquid chromatography with a photodiode array detector. Genotoxicity was evaluated based on bacterial reverse mutation (Salmonella typhimurium TA1535, TA98, TA100, and TA1537, and Escherichia coli WP2 uvrA), chromosomal aberration (Chinese hamster lung cells), and micronucleus (mouse) tests. Quality control analysis was conducted using a SunFire C18 column and gradient elution with a distilled water-acetonitrile mobile phase system containing 0.1% (v/v) formic acid for 12 markers (5-(hydroxy-methyl)furfural, 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde, liquiritin apioside, liquiritin, coumarin, baicalin, wogonoside, cinnamaldehyde, baicalein, glycyrrhizin, wogonin, and atractylenolide III). SRT showed no genotoxicity in three tests. Ames tests showed that SRT at 313-5000 µg/plate did not significantly increase the number of revertant colonies with or without metabolic activation among five bacterial strains. Moreover, in vivo micronucleus testing showed that SRT did not increase the frequency of bone marrow micronuclei. The number of chromosomal aberrations associated with SRT was similar to that observed in the negative controls. The 12 markers were detected at 0.04-16.86 mg/g in a freeze-dried SRT sample and completely eluted within 45 min. The extraction recovery was 95.39-104.319% and the relative standard deviation value of the precision was ≤2.09%. Our study will be used as basic data for the safety and standardization of SRT.

Impact of changes in perceived attentional function on postsurgical health-related quality of life in breast cancer patients awaiting adjuvant treatment.

PURPOSE: Few studies have assessed pre-surgery cognitive impairment or the impact of pre-surgery cognitive impairment on quality of life. The purpose of this study was to assess changes in perceived cognitive function from pre-surgery to 1 month post-surgery and to determine whether cognitive function predicted health-related quality of life in women who awaited adjuvant treatment for breast cancer. METHODS: This study used a descriptive pre-post design to assess women newly diagnosed with breast cancer prior to any treatment (N = 132). Cognition was assessed using the Attentional Function Index (AFI) and health-related quality of life was assessed using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G). Statistical methods included descriptive, comparative and regression analyses. Covariates assessed and controlled for in analyses included depressed mood, fatigue, disturbed sleep, surgery-related symptoms (lymphedema/decreased mobility), and cultural tendency. RESULTS: Perceived attention and memory function decreased from pre-surgery to 1 month post-surgery alongside alterations in arm function and a decrease in depressed mood (p < 0.05). Regression analysis indicated that, after controlling for covariates, poorer perceived attention and memory function, surgery-specific symptoms, and a greater tendency toward collectivism predicted poorer quality of life. CONCLUSION: Perceived function on tasks requiring attention and working memory 1 month post-surgery was poorer compared to pre-surgery suggesting that the mental and physical demands of a new diagnosis of breast cancer and surgery may effect cognitive function. Additionally, changes in perceived cognitive function significantly predicted perceived quality of life in women awaiting adjuvant treatment for breast cancer. Findings suggest that breast cancer patients are at risk for an early decline in cognitive function and that interventions aimed at supporting and optimizing function may improve quality of life early in the disease trajectory.

Distinct Factors Associated With Better Self-care in Heart Failure Patients With and Without Mild Cognitive Impairment.

BACKGROUND: A decline in cognition may limit patients' ability to effectively engage in self-care in those with heart failure (HF). However, several studies have shown no difference in self-care between HF patients with and without cognitive impairment. This may indicate that there are more salient factors associated with self-care in HF patients with cognitive impairment compared with those without cognitive impairment. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore which factors are related to self-care based on the presence and absence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) among patients with HF. METHODS: Patients with HF were recruited from outpatient settings. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment was used to screen for MCI. Self-care was measured with the Self-care of HF Index v.6.2. Two separate stepwise linear regressions were performed to identify which factors (HF knowledge, perceived control, functional status, multimorbidity, executive function, and social support) predicted self-care in HF patients with and without MCI. RESULTS: Of the 132 patients in this study, 36 (27.3%) had MCI. Self-care maintenance and management were associated with social support (ß = 0.489) and executive function (ß = 0.484), respectively, in patients with MCI. Perceived control was associated with both self-care maintenance and management in patients without MCI (ßs = 0.404 and 0.262, respectively). CONCLUSION: We found that social support and executive function were associated with self-care in HF patients with MCI, whereas perceived control was associated with self-care in HF patients with intact cognition. Clinicians should develop tailored interventions to enhance self-care by considering the distinct factors associated with self-care based on the presence or absence of MCI.

School-related factors affecting smoking intention among Korean middle school students.

INTRODUCTION: This study examined school-related factors affecting smoking intention among Korean middle school students who were current non-smokers. METHODS: We used a descriptive, cross-sectional design based on the model explaining smoking initiation among Asian adolescents, to analyze data from 561 adolescents aged 14-16years in middle school. RESULTS: School-related cognitive and psychological engagement and close friends' smoking were significantly associated with smoking intention after controlling for covariates, such as personal and familial factors. Of the familial factors, mothers' previous or current smoking status were significantly associated with smoking intention. In addition, for personal factors, smoking experience was associated with smoking intention. The explanatory power of these variables in the predictive model was 36.0%. CONCLUSION: Health care providers in schools and communities should develop smoking prevention strategies reflecting school-related factors associated with smoking intention such as improving school engagement and providing healthy alternative methods for social interaction with peers rather than smoking.

Post-treatment cognitive dysfunction in women treated with thyroidectomy for papillary thyroid carcinoma.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study is to assess cognitive function in papillary thyroid cancer, one type of differentiated thyroid cancer, and to identify factors associated with cognitive dysfunction. METHODS: Korean women treated with papillary thyroid cancer post thyroidectomy (n = 90) and healthy women similar in age and educational level (n = 90) performed attention and working memory tests and completed self-report questionnaires on cognitive complaints, psychological distress, symptom distress, and cultural characteristics. Comparative and multivariable regression analyses were performed to determine differences in cognitive function and possible predictors of neurocognitive performance and cognitive complaints. RESULTS: Thyroid cancer survivors performed and perceived their function to be significantly worse on tests of attention and working memory compared to individuals without thyroid cancer. Regression analyses found that having thyroid cancer, older age, and lower educational level were associated with worse neurocognitive performance, while greater fatigue, more sleep problems, and higher levels of childrearing burden but not having thyroid cancer were associated with lower perceived effectiveness in cognitive functioning. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that women receiving thyroid hormone replacement therapy after thyroidectomy for papillary thyroid cancer are at risk for attention and working memory problems. Coexisting symptoms and culture-related women's burden affected perceived cognitive dysfunction. Health care providers should assess for cognitive problems in women with thyroid cancer and intervene to reduce distress and improve quality of life.

Evaluation of radioisotopic and non-radioisotopic versions of local lymph node assays for subcategorization of skin sensitizers compliant to UN GHS rev 4.

Recently UN GHS has introduced the sub-categorization of skin sensitizers for which ECt (concentration estimated to induce stimulation index above threshold) of the murine local lymph node assay (LLNA) is used as criteria. Non-radioisotopic variants of LLNA, LLNA: DA, LLNA: BrdU-ELISA, LNCC and LLNA: BrdU-FCM were developed yet their utilities for potency sub-categorization are not established. Here we assessed the agreement of LLNA variants with LLNA or human data in potency sub-categorization for 22 reference substances of OECD TG429. Concordance of sub-categorization with LLNA was highest for LLNA: BrdU-FCM(91%, κ = 0.833, weighted kappa) followed by LLNA: BrdU-ELISA (82%, κ = 0.744) and LLNA: DA (73%, κ = 0.656) whereas LNCC only showed a modest association (64%, κ = 0.441). With human data, LLNA agreed best (77%) followed by LLNA: DA and LLNA: BrdU-FCM(73%), LLNA: BrdU-ELISA (68%) and LNCC(55%). Bland-Altman plot revealed that ECt's of LLNA variants largely agreed with LLNA where most values fell within 95% limit of agreement. Correlation between ECt's of LLNA and LLNA variants were high except for LNCC(pair-wise with LLNA, LLNA: DA, r = 0.848, LLNA: BrdU-ELISA, r = 0.744, LLNA: BrdU-FCM, r=0.786, and LNCC, r = 0.561 by Pearson). Collectively, these results demonstrated that LLNA variants exhibit performance comparable to LLNA in the potency sub-categorization although additional substances shall be analyzed in the future.

Comparison of BALB/c and CBA/J mice for the local lymph node assay using bromodeoxyuridine with flow cytometry (LLNA: BrdU-FCM).

The local lymph node assay using 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU) with flow cytometry (LLNA: BrdU-FCM) is a modified LLNA that is used to identify skin sensitizers by counting BrdU-incorporated lymph node cells (LNCs) with flow cytometry. Unlike other LLNA methods (OECD TG 429, 442A and 442B) in which the CBA/J mouse strain is used, LLNA: BrdU-FCM was originally designed to be compatible with BALB/c, a mouse strain that is more widely used in many countries. To justify the substitution of CBA/J for BALB/c, the equivalence of the test results between two strains shall be established prior to the official implementation of LLNA: BrdU-FCM. This study aims to compare the test results of LLNA: BrdU-FCM produced in BALB/c mice with those in CBA/J mice for 18 reference substances, including 13 sensitizers and 5 non-sensitizers, listed in OECD Test Guideline 429. Based on the LLNA: BrdU-FCM test procedure, we selected an appropriate solvent and then performed preliminary tests to determine the non-irritating dose ranges for the main study, which revealed the difference in the irritation responses to 8 of the 18 chemicals between the two strains. In the main study, we measured the changes in the number of total LNCs, which indicated differences in the responses to test chemicals between the two strains. However, the stimulation index obtained with the counts of BrdU-incorporated LNCs with 7-AAD using flow cytometry yielded comparable results and 100% concordance between the BALB/c and CBA/J mouse strains was achieved, suggesting that the performance of LLNA: BrdU-FCM using BALB/c mice was equivalent to that with CBA/J mice.

Performance standard-based validation study for local lymph node assay: 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine-flow cytometry method.

Local lymph node assay: 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine-flow cytometry method (LLNA: BrdU-FCM) is a modified non-radioisotopic technique with the additional advantages of accommodating multiple endpoints with the introduction of FCM, and refinement and reduction of animal use by using a sophisticated prescreening scheme. Reliability and accuracy of the LLNA: BrdU-FCM was determined according to OECD Test Guideline (TG) No. 429 (Skin Sensitization: Local Lymph Node Assay) performance standards (PS), with the participation of four laboratories. Transferability was demonstrated through successfully producing stimulation index (SI) values for 25% hexyl cinnamic aldehyde (HCA) consistently greater than 3, a predetermined threshold, by all participating laboratories. Within- and between-laboratory reproducibility was shown using HCA and 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene, in which EC2.7 values (the estimated concentrations eliciting an SI of 2.7, the threshold for LLNA: BrdU-FCM) fell consistently within the acceptance ranges, 0.025-0.1% and 5-20%, respectively. Predictive capacity was tested using the final protocol version 1.3 for the 18 reference chemicals listed in OECD TG 429, of which results showed 84.6% sensitivity, 100% specificity, and 88.9% accuracy compared with the original LLNA. The data presented are considered to meet the performance criteria for the PS, and its predictive capacity was also sufficiently validated.

Scale-free brain dynamics under physical and psychological distress: pre-treatment effects in women diagnosed with breast cancer.

Stressful life events are related to negative outcomes, including physical and psychological manifestations of distress, and behavioral deficits. Patients diagnosed with breast cancer report impaired attention and working memory prior to adjuvant therapy, which may be induced by distress. In this article, we examine whether brain dynamics show systematic changes due to the distress associated with cancer diagnosis. We hypothesized that impaired working memory is associated with suppression of "long-memory" neuronal dynamics; we tested this by measuring scale-free ("fractal") brain dynamics, quantified by the Hurst exponent (H). Fractal scaling refers to signals that do not occur at a specific time-scale, possessing a spectral power curve P(f)∝ f(-ß); they are "long-memory" processes, with significant autocorrelations. In a BOLD functional magnetic resonance imaging study, we scanned three groups during a working memory task: women scheduled to receive chemotherapy or radiotherapy and aged-matched controls. Surprisingly, patients' BOLD signal exhibited greater H with increasing intensity of anticipated treatment. However, an analysis of H and functional connectivity against self-reported measures of psychological distress (Worry, Anxiety, Depression) and physical distress (Fatigue, Sleep problems) revealed significant interactions. The modulation of (Worry, Anxiety) versus (Fatigue, Sleep Problems, Depression) showed the strongest effect, where higher worry and lower fatigue was related to reduced H in regions involved in visuospatial search, attention, and memory processing. This is also linked to decreased functional connectivity in these brain regions. Our results indicate that the distress associated with cancer diagnosis alters BOLD scaling, and H is a sensitive measure of the interaction between psychological versus physical distress.

Psychosocial barriers and facilitators for cascade genetic testing in hereditary breast and ovarian cancer: a scoping review.

Despite increased awareness and availability of genetic testing for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) syndrome for over 20 years, there is still significant underuse of cascade genetic testing among at-risk relatives. This scoping review synthesized evidence regarding psychosocial barriers and facilitators of family communication and/or uptake of cascade genetic testing in relatives from HBOC families. Search terms included 'hereditary breast and ovarian cancer' and 'cascade genetic testing' for studies published from 2012-2022. Through searching common databases, and manual search of references, 480 studies were identified after excluding duplications. Each article was reviewed by two researchers independently and 20 studies were included in the final analysis. CASP, RoBANS 2.0, RoB 2.0, and MMAT were used to assess the quality of included studies. A convergent data synthesis method was used to integrate evidence from quantitative and narrative data into categories and subcategories. Evidence points to 3 categories and 12 subcategories of psychosocial barriers and facilitators for cascade testing: (1) facilitators (belief in health protection and prevention; family closeness; decisional empowerment; family support, sense of responsibility; self-efficacy; supportive health professionals); (2) bidirectional concepts (information; perception of genetic/cancer consequences; negative emotions and attitude); and (3) barriers (negative reactions from family and negative family dynamics). Healthcare providers need to systematically evaluate these psychosocial factors, strengthen facilitators and alleviate barriers to promote informed decision-making for communication of genetic test results and uptake of genetic testing. Bidirectional factors merit special consideration and tailored approaches, as they can potentially have a positive or negative influence on family communication and uptake of genetic testing.

The Effectiveness and Safety of Nurse-Led Auricular Acupressure on Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Among Patients With Breast Cancer: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Sham-Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a major symptom of distress among chemotherapy-treated cancer survivors. Although various interventions have been attempted, there is no criterion-standard treatment. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the efficacy and safety of auricular acupressure (AA) in improving peripheral neuropathy symptoms in breast cancer patients undergoing taxane-based treatment. METHODS: A total of 51 eligible participants were enrolled and randomly allocated (1:1) to AA or sham control groups. The intervention was performed weekly for 3 weeks using different ear points, depending on the group. The Total Neuropathy Score was used to measure CIPN objectively. The Numerical Rating Scale and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy-20 were used to measure the subjective symptoms of CIPN. Outcomes were compared between groups by time interaction using generalized estimating equations based on the intention-to-treat principle. RESULTS: Only 1 participant dropped out because of nausea and mild fever. The results of generalized estimating equations showed significant improvement in Numerical Rating Scale scores on the hands and feet and total Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy-20 in the experimental group compared with the sham control group (all Ps < .05). Although the experimental group showed a greater reduction in Total Neuropathy Score scores than the sham control group, no significant differences were found. CONCLUSION: Auricular acupressure is an effective and safe nurse-led intervention for managing CIPN symptoms in breast cancer patients. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The findings help nurses to integrate AA easily and usefully into nursing care, contributing to managing symptoms of CIPN in cancer patients and survivors.

Preliminary Study on an Alternative Test Method with MCTT HCETM for Ocular Irritation Test of Ophthalmic Medical Devices.

The sustained growth of the market for ophthalmic medical devices has increased the demand for alternatives to animal testing for the evaluation of eye irritation. The International Organization for Standardization has acknowledged the need to develop novel in vitro tests to replace animal testing. Here, we evaluated the applicability of an alternative method based on a human corneal model to test the safety of ophthalmic medical devices. 2-Hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), which are used to fabricate contact lenses, were used as base materials. These materials were blended with eye irritant and non-irritant chemicals specified in the OECD Test Guideline (TG) 492 and Globally Harmonized System (GHS) classification. Then, three GLP-certified laboratories performed three replicates using the developed method using 3D reconstructed human cornea epithelium, MCTT HCETM. OECD TG 492 describes the procedure used to evaluate the eye hazard potential of the test chemical based on its ability to induce cytotoxicity in a reconstructed human cornea-like epithelium (RhCE) tissue. Results: The within-laboratory reproducibility (WLR) and between-laboratory reproducibility (BLR) were both 100%. When a polar extraction solvent was used, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were all 100% in each laboratory. When a non-polar extraction solvent was used, the sensitivity was 80%, the specificity was 100%, and the accuracy was 90%. The proposed method exhibited excellent reproducibility and predictive capacity within and between laboratories. Therefore, the proposed method using the MCTT HCETM model could be used to evaluate eye irritation caused by ophthalmic medical devices.

Assessing Physical and Cognitive Function in Individuals With Head and Neck Cancer: A Feasibility Study.

BACKGROUND: Head and neck cancer (HNC) and associated treatments have significant long-term and late adverse effects that can impair function. Therefore, there is a need for reliable common metrics to assess function in HNC that limit participant burden and are cost-effective and easy to use in clinical settings. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of using the Fitbit Zip, NIH Toolbox, and REDCap electronic data collection tool to measure function and symptoms in individuals with HNC and to explore preliminary findings. METHODS: A prospective descriptive design with a total of 16 participants was used to assess function and symptoms pretreatment to 3 months post treatment initiation. RESULTS: The enrollment rate was 49%, the retention rate was 81%, and the Fitbit Zip adherence rate was 86%. Exploratory analyses suggested a possible decline in physical activity and worsening symptom burden alongside improved attention and cognitive flexibility abilities ( P ≤ .05). There were no differences in strength, functional mobility, information processing, or perceived attentional function. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that use of the Fitbit Zip, NIH Toolbox, and REDCap data collection tool in HNC is feasible. Exploratory analyses suggest that the Fitbit Zip may be a sensitive measure of physical activity in HNC. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: This study provides preliminary evidence for metrics that could be used in the clinical settings to assess function and symptom distress in HNC. Integration of these measures, upon further validation, could help providers better identify patients in need of intervention.

Validation and psychometric properties of the multidimensional scale of perceived social support among Korean breast cancer survivors.

Objective: Social support plays a key role in dealing with various challenges accompanying cancer treatment and survivorship. The multidimensional scale of perceived social support (MSPSS) is a valid measurement used globally to assess general support from social interpersonal relations. This study aims to validate the psychometric properties of the Korean version of the MSPSS among Korean women with breast cancer. Methods: Two independent cross-sectional studies collected data from 349 non-metastatic breast cancer survivors. Statistical analyses of confirmatory factor analyses, t-test, and Pearson correlation were performed to test construct validity, including factorial structure, concurrent validity, and known-group comparisons. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were used to evaluate the reliability. Results: Factor analysis confirmed a three-factor construct (i.e., family, friends, and spouse) with good fit indices. Concurrent validity was verified by correlations with social well-being and interpersonal relationships, which are theoretically relevant concepts. Known-group validity was also confirmed by different MSPSS scores according to depression and symptom distress levels. Reliability was supported by good internal consistency and acceptable test-retest correlation coefficients. Conclusions: The findings demonstrate the MSPSS is a valid and reliable measurement to assess the extent to which women with breast cancer perceive social support from spouses, other family members, and friends in Korea. Further studies should verify the psychometric properties of the MSPSS in patients with other cancers beyond breast cancer. Health professionals could administer the MSPSS to evaluate the diverse resources of social support among cancer survivors.

Psychometric Properties of the Korean Version of the Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Assessment Tool.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a multidimensional symptom cluster induced by neurotoxic chemotherapy agents among patients with cancer. A well-developed tool for assessing CIPN can help with the early detection and timely management of patients. This study assessed the reliability and validity of the Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Assessment Tool (CIPNAT) in Korean women with breast cancer who were treated with chemotherapy. METHODS: A psychometric analysis of the Korean version of CIPNAT was conducted with 207 patients with breast cancer who were treated with chemotherapy. Patients were assessed using the CIPNAT and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy-20 (CIPN-20). Analyses of internal consistency reliability, concurrent validity, and construct validity (based on structural and discriminant validity testing) were performed to evaluate the psychometric properties. RESULTS: The Korean version of the CIPNAT had good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.95; the item-total correlation coefficients ranged 0.34-0.76). The CIPNAT and CIPN-20 were moderately correlated (r = .67). Confirmatory factor analyses showed a four-factor structural model with acceptable model fit indices. Discriminant validity was supported by differences between individuals treated with and without taxane-based chemotherapy (p < .001). IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The Korean version of the CIPNAT was a valid and reliable screening tool for identification of CIPN symptoms and functional interference in Korean women who received chemotherapy for breast cancer. The instrument can be useful for the timely and routine assessment of CIPN symptoms and functional limitations of patients with cancer by oncology nurses.